Mumbai, Dec 21: A special CBI court today announced a verdict today, In relation to the Soharabuddin Shaikh encounter case. All 22 accused in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati encounter killing were acquitted by a court. Court cited the witnesses and evidence was not satisfactory to prove conspiracy and murder. A Special CBI judge said the circumstantial evidence was not substantial. Of the 210 witnesses examined, at least 92 had turned hostile during trial.
“Sohrabuddin died due to bullet injuries that are also substantiated by the post-mortem report but whether these accused were authors of the said crime could not be substantiated. There is circumstantial evidence but no substantial evidence. Three main witnesses in the case turned hostile. If the government lawyer did his best to prove the case of the prosecution, but if witnesses don’t talk, what can the prosecution do”, said the Judge while giving judgement.
Timeline of the Case …
In 2005, November 26, - Shaikh killed in an alleged fake encounter, allegedly by a joint team comprising Gujarat and Rajasthan police.
November 29, 2005 - Kausar Bi also allegedly killed by police, her body burnt and disposed of.
But on April 30, 2007, Gujarat government files a report before the Supreme Court stating Kausar Bi is dead and her body burnt and disposed of.
December 27, 2006 - Prajapati taken from the Udaipur central prison by a team comprising Rajasthan and Gujarat police and allegedly killed in an encounter near Sarhad Chapri on Gujarat-Rajasthan border.
22 May-2006 - Shaikh's family approaches the Supreme Court for the investigation into his encounter and also seeks to know the whereabouts of Kausar Bi. SC directs Gujarat state CID to conduct a probe in the case.
January 2010 - Supreme Court hands over the probe to CBI.
July 23, 2010 - CBI files chargesheet against 38 persons including the then Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah, the then Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria and senior IPS officials.
December 30, 2014 - A special CBI court in Mumbai discharges Amit Shah. Fifteen other accused including Kataria and senior IPS officials also discharged subsequently.
November 2017 - Special CBI Judge S J Sharma commences trial in the case. Prosecution examines 210 witnesses, of which 92 turned hostile.
December 5, 2018 - Court closes the case completion of final arguments by prosecution and defence lawyers.
December 21, 2018 - Court acquits all 22 accused in the case after observing that prosecution failed to establish charges against them.